Longtime Win SA, edging toward Linux

[tpickard]

Yep, yet another Windows System Admin wanting a wider view of things. I have a ton of certs (like so many others, some deserving, some not) and while many are platform neutral I haven't actually worked with non Windows OSs much. I've had a Linux server for over a year, but haven't done much beyond seting it up for file sharing with our (my families) Windows desktops.

I work as an IT contractor for the Air Force right now and see better opportunity if I can add Linux/Unix abilities to my skillset. Especially if I'm good at integrating the platforms. Not to mention I think it would make things better for my wife (graphic artist/web page designer) if I could host her web page since she is self employed.

Tim
A+, Net+, Sec+, and MCSA

[oz]

Welcome to the forums... hope Linux turns out to be a very good thing for you!

[rokytnji]

Howdy and Welcome tpickard.

[Freston]

Welcome to the forums!

It's always good to broaden your horizon. Just wanted to mention that it sometimes it seems that the more someone knows about Windows, the more problems they have switching to Linux (or... learning about Linux as is the case here). Good luck, and have fun!

[sarlacii]

Hah, excellent, you won't be dissapointed... I myself fall into the catagory of both win and linux user too; which you have to be if you manage IT at a company. For desktop work I use PClinuxOS dual-boot with WinXP (which I need for running certain bits of vital work software that just aren't available in linux, even with wine). On the server side win runs file services, mail and domain... however, linux kicks win server butt in the VPN stakes, so our gateways are all Linux. Watch your linux server's uptime... hundreds of days is easy.
Have fun!

[tpickard]

I must be getting a little better with Linux.

This weekend when I logged onto my Fedora 9 server/desktop my network connection said disconnected, but I could still get in through Samba.
Before I fixed that I was able to get SSH working for the network monitoring software I'm experimenting with.
I actually stumbled on the Network Disconnected for the users but still running the server and SSH solution (some update unchecked the Controlled by Network Manager in the Network Configuration), but not before I tried updating the system to Fedora 10.
Of course Fedora 10 killed Samba, but I actually remembered that I had to start it with a command line and managed to get it working again in a relatively short time.
I've a number of books on Linux (online), so what I really need to do is get off my lazy but and start reading.

[bigtomrodney]

That's a bug that bites tpickard

Fixing things is very rewarding. I find myself needing to do it less and less these days but I almost enjoy fixing problems. I was a sysadmin in Windows for a few years too and it's true: when it comes to certification some of them really are a tick in the box rather than an actual accomplishment. I do remember after taking some grief about being a Linux user for a while I turned to a guy that worked with me and said

When people ask you what you do, do you say you work with computers or with Windows? Because outside of those installer wizards you really wouldn't have a clue.

Sounds pretty harsh but the guy had been ribbing on me for a few weeks. After that I got a lot more respect from him.